As most college football fans know by now, the Red River Rivalry between the (20) Oklahoma Sooners and (3) Texas Longhorns occurs this week at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas. With a win, Texas should vault back over Alabama into the #2 spot in the polls, with a loss they could have to start over from scratch and win out to have a chance at the Big 12 title game. For the Sooners, the situation is must-win. After losses to BYU and Miami, both without Sam Bradford, Oklahoma is scrambling to keep a spot in the polls. With a win, Bob Stoops' team has a outside chance of reaching the BCS, with a loss the BCS and most likely the Big 12 Championship Game are out of reach. With WR Ryan Broyles returning to the lineup this week, the Sooners are in position to win the game but, Texas QB Colt McCoy will be too much and Texas will continue their march to the BCS National Championship Game in Pasadena.
Prediction: Texas 17, Oklahoma 9
OTHER GAMES TO WATCH:
(12) Iowa @ Wisconsin (12:00, ESPN)
Ricky Stanzi and the Hawkeyes are undefeated going into Camp Randall this weekend. With wins over Michigan and Penn State, Iowa's wins are legit, but a win on the road against an underrated Badger team would seal the deal. Wisconsin is coming off a loss in Columbus to Ohio State and the best remedy to get over that loss is a big upset win at home.
Prediction: Iowa 27, Wisconsin 21
(4) Virginia Tech @ (19) Georgia Tech (6:00, ESPN2)
Paul Johnson's triple-option offense has given opposing defenses fits this season, except for Miami and this week against the Hokies. Frank Beamer's team is on a mission to win the ACC and maybe even the national championship this season and will not falter in Atlanta against the option. Ryan Williams is the nation's #5 rusher and will give the Yellow Jacket defense a lot of trouble. Paired with the air attack of Tyrod Taylor and the defense and special teams of the Hokies, they are a complete team this year and no one is stopping them right now.
Prediction: Va Tech 35, Ga Tech 18
(22) South Carolina @ (2) Alabama (7:45, ESPN)
Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa will be going crazy Saturday night because it is Alabama's biggest conference game of the year, so far. Steve Spurrier's Gamecock team has been very impressive ever since their win against Ole Miss at home last month. Stephen Garcia has shown maturity and improvement in his game. For the Crimson Tide, Mark Ingram and the entire gorund game is on fire. All Greg McElroy has to do is complete 15-25 passes and they will win. But not this week, McElroy will have to step up and prove to Tide fans that he is capable of winning big games. This game will go down to the wire, but the Tide pull it out in the end on a Leigh Tiffin field goal.
Prediction: Alabama 26, South Carolina 24
UPSET ALERT OF THE WEEK
(6) USC @ (25) Notre Dame (3:30, NBC)
The Showdown in South Bend between the Trojans and the Irish will be a classic. Matt Barkley and Jimmy Clausen need to prove to their respective fan bases that they are for real and they can lead their team to BCS game. In Barkley's case he has already beaten Ohio State in Columbus and with a win in South Bend on Saturday, he could possibly throw his hat in the Heisman race and give USC the edge to win the Pac-10. For Clausen and the Irish its all about winning out and reaching a BCS game. Clausen's main weapon, Golden Tate will continue his amazing streak of receiving games, last game Tate caught over 200 yards. Without the Clausen-Tate combination being stopped, USC has no chance which is why Notre Dame will win.
Prediction: Notre Dame 37, USC 28
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